Open Access book publications

FAQ

What costs are covered by the SNSF as part of its funding of openly accessible book publications?

The SNSF finances the publication of scientific books (monographs and anthologies) that are published via the Gold Road. It is possible to apply for a grant covering the book processing charges (BPCs) of books resulting from a project funded by the SNSF as well as books with no link to an SNSF project. The application has to be submitted via the OA platform (mySNF).

What are book processing charges (BPCs)?

Book processing charges (BPCs) are charges paid by the author to the publisher in return for the openly accessible publication of a scientific book. BPCs are mostly covered by the author’s institution or another funder.

By awarding a BPC, the SNSF pays for publishing services with regard to the quality control, production and distribution of monographs and anthologies. The amounts of the different BPC modules are specified in Article 11 of the Regulations on the funding of Open Access publications.

Who can submit an application?

The application is generally submitted by the author of the scientific work. If there are several authors, the application may also be submitted by the editor.

Grant applications for book publications that result from an SNSF-funded project can be submitted by the grantee or by project employees. They will be able to do so even after the end of the project.

Applicants who apply for a grant for a book publication that is not linked to an SNSF project must meet the personal requirements for applicants pursuant to Article 10 of the Funding Regulations.

Grant applications for monographs that are the result of a doctoral thesis or a habilitation can be submitted even if Article 10 is not fulfilled, as long as the thesis or habilitation was defended and accepted at a Swiss university.

Funding Regulations Article 10

At what stage can an application for a publication grant be submitted?

Applications can be submitted via the OA platform (mySNF) at any time.

Grant applications for book publications can be submitted as soon as the manuscript has gone through the peer-review process organised by the publisher and the necessary documentation is available.

The evaluation is generally completed after two months. The relevant scientific work may not be published before the SNSF has communicated its decision.

How does the SNSF define the peer-review process conducted by the publisher?

The SNSF considers the peer-review process as an important quality control tool provided by the publishers. They need to obtain at least one external, independent and meaningful review in written form that refers to the entire manuscript. The review must be shown to the author. Depending on the discipline, the review of the manuscript is anonymous (single blind or double blind). The author is expected to make adjustments to the manuscript according to the points that were criticised by the reviewer.

The publishers compile a documentation of the peer-review process for the SNSF in which they include the relevant review as well as a statement by the author as to how criticisms raised in the review were addressed. The revised manuscript also needs to be submitted.

What is an enriched e-book?

An enriched e-book offers additional functionalities, such as audio and video files, links to external websites or lexicons and interactive elements; all of these functionalities are available in open access mode.

The SNSF does not finance conference proceedings. Is it possible to have the publication of conference papers supported by the SNSF in any other way?

Conference papers can be supported by the SNSF if they are collected in an anthology. However, this is only possible if the individual papers are revised and merged to form a cohesive publication. It must have a clear thematic focus, including a knowledgeable introduction, and the individual papers must be comparable in terms of their scientific quality. The anthology as a whole must be peer reviewed, and the review has to address any individual contributions.

Individual chapters of an anthology can be funded via book chapter processing charges.

Am I allowed to publish a printed version of my publication alongside the Open Access version?

Yes, this is permitted. However, the SNSF grant must not be used to cover the paper and printing costs.

Can a printed version be published prior to the Open Access version?

If the SNSF funds a book publication with a BPC, the book must be openly accessible without delay, i.e. at the same time as any printed version.

Book publications that are linked to an SNSF project but have not been funded via a BPC can initially be published in print or as a payable e-book. No later than 12 months after the first publication, they must be accessible in an institutional or disciplinary repository (Green Open Access).

Where do SNSF-funded Open Access publications need to be archived?

The SNSF requests that book publications are placed prominently on the website of the publisher. In addition, the author is asked to make the publication accessible in an institutional or disciplinary repository.

The SNSF is responsible for forwarding the OA publication to the Swiss National Library and the OAPEN library.

Swiss National Library – e-Helvetica

OAPEN Library

Who receives the BPCs that have been awarded?

BPCs are paid directly to the publisher. If a BPC has been awarded, the author needs to ask for the payment to be released via mySNF. While doing so, the author enters metadata about the publication and the account details of the publishing house. Once the SNSF has checked that the details are complete, the BPC is debited to the publisher’s account.

What are metadata?

Metadata comprises structured information regarding book publications. There are three types of metadata: conventional, digital and Open Access-specific metadata. Conventional metadata include the actual bibliographic details. Digital metadata include Digital Object Identifier (DOI) and the ORCID (if available), which identify the author of a publication beyond any doubt. Open Access-specific metadata includes the license as well as the URL of the publication and the format of the publication.